SPRING CITY — Keith Chandler, chair of the planning and zoning committee, resigned prior to a public hearing scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 7 to discuss his chairmanship. Mayor Eldon Barnes indicated in the regular city council meeting which followed that remaining members of the committee will select a new chair.

In an unrelated matter during the city council meeting, Mayor Barnes spoke regarding a water rights issue that has caused conflict among Spring City residents.

“I don’t want the city to be torn apart about this,” he said.

Mayor Barnes said he has recently sought to claim water rights on the historic use of a spring near Main Street. The spring is the namesake of the town and is a landmark there. Although certain members in the community have also sought to claim the water, Mayor Barnes hopes he can resolve the conflict by claiming it as the city’s.

Engineers hired by Spring City have delivered documentation about the spring’s historic use. Mayor Barnes is presently in the process of speaking to an attorney as well as the Utah Division of Water Rights.

But some are upset that the city has filed claim, he said.

“I don’t want to excluded anyone else from filing a claim,” he said. “I hope we can look at the facts. … As mayor, I feel that I have an obligation to protect the interests of the city, and it may turn out that we don’t have any. … We can have an honest disagreement and still get along.”

The issue is so volatile that when it was requested in the meeting that city council members prepare memoirs about the spring to be included in the city’s updated history as well as the city newsletter, the idea was turned down.

The Utah Division of Water Rights may scheduled a public hearing to discuss the disputing claims, Mayor Barnes said.

“I hope they do,” he said,

In other matters, a Spring City public hearing has been scheduled at 6 p.m. on Feb. 5, prior to the next city council meeting, to discuss a proposal amending the water ordinance so Master Meter brand water meters can be installed. The meters would provide for easier and more accurate readings.

On Feb. 27-28, a mock disaster has been scheduled. Randomly selected community members should be prepared to survive without electricity or water. The city seeks to update its list of people who are on oxygen or other electrical medical devices. It also wants to know how long these individuals can go without electricity. Spring City residents who use such medical devices should contact the city at 462-2244.